27 Living Together and Your Rights if You Separate
1 Introduction
This leaflet tells you about the law if you are living with a partner but are neither married nor in a civil partnership. It covers both same-sex (gay or lesbian) couples and male-female couples. It also explains how the Civil Partnership Act, which came into force in December 2005, works. However, it does not explain in detail the rights of people in a civil partnership, who are in almost the same legal position as people who are married.
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There is information on:
2. Why is living together different from being married?
4. Making a ´living together agreement´
5. When you are living together
6. If you or your partner dies
7. State benefits for people living together
11. Arrangements if you have children
13. Sorting out other items you own
15. Terms used in matters to do with living together
This leaflet is published by the Legal Service Commission (LSC). It was written in association with Imogen Clout, a solicitor specialising in family law.
Latest version: August 2006
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